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Austria has been a major seat of European culture and learning for centuries and nurtured such luminaries as Mozart and Kepler. The nation's landmarks reflect this legacy, from sites that preserve Austria's cultural heritage to ornate palaces and venues that stand as monuments to the country's Hapsburg emperors. Frommer's notes that Austria's tourist traffic is at its heaviest during July, August and the holiday season, so vacationers who prefer to avoid long lines at the nation's attractions should consider booking flights and hotel rooms at other times of the year.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck's Golden Roof (goldenes-dachl.at) sports a three-story balcony, whose canopy is inlaid with 2,657 golden shingles. Emperor Maximilian I commissioned the ostentatious work during the late 15th century, and it provided him with an opulent vantage point from which to watch competitions in the town square. The building's second floor hosts the Maximilaneum, a museum whose exhibits recount Maximilian's life and achievements.

Maximilian also commissioned the Hofburg (hofburg-innsbruck.at), an opulent palace for his second wife, Milan's Maria Sforza. Empress Maria Theresa renovated the castle during the 18th century, adorning the Hofburg with Baroque architectural motifs. Visitors can tour the royal apartments and the Giants Hall, which features portraits of Maria Theresa's children, including the doomed future queen of France, Marie Antoinette. The Hofburg offers free admission to guests 19 and younger and includes self-guided audio tours in its admission price.

Linz

The Minorite order built Linz' Landhaus (no website; Klosterstrasse 11; 4020 Linz; 011-43-0732-77200) around 1570 to serve as a monastery, and today, the building is the seat of government for Upper Austria. During the 17th century, the Landhaus was the site of a university that counted astronomer Johannes Kepler, who deciphered the mechanics governing planetary motion, among its faculty members. In the Landhaus' expansive courtyard is the Planetenbrunun, an ornate fountain built in 1582. Still part of the Landhaus are the Minorite order's chapel and apartments that were reserved for traveling Austrian nobles.

Salzburg

Salzburg's Glockenspiel (salzburgmuseum.at) is an elaborate network of bells and chimes housed in the five-story Carillon tower, and it rang out its first tune in 1704. The Glockenspiel plays music three times a day and has a repertoire of 40 tunes, which range from classical to folk music. In January 2011, the Salzburg Museum completed restoration work on the Glockenspiel's bells, ending two years of silence from the mechanical instrument.

Prince Archbishop von Raitenau commissioned Schloss Mirabell's (no website; Mirabellplatz; 5020 Salzburg; 011-43-662-8072-0) construction in 1606 as a gift to his bride, and future princes expanded the original building, and cultivated its lavish, sprawling gardens. Mozart once performed in Mirabell's Marble Hall, which still hosts public concerts. Schloss Mirabell is currently the site of Salzburg's city government offices, and admission to tour the castle is free, though the palace is closed to the public when it hosts official functions.

Vienna

Vienna's Mozart House (mozarthausvienna.at) was the famed composer's residence from 1784 through 1787. Mozart lived in the spacious first-floor apartment at a time when his renown was rapidly spreading throughout Europe, and the museum's exhibits provide a historical context for his work, depicting Viennese life in Mozart's day. Other exhibits focus on Mozart's work in various musical genres and provide a glimpse into the lives of Mozart's friends and family. The museum offers free audio tours, and guests can also book hour-long guided tours.

The Tiergarten Schonbrunn (zoovienna.at) was originally a private animal reserve for the royal family. Established in 1752, it's the world's oldest zoo and is currently home to more than 500 different species of wildlife. Its exhibits include a re-creation of an Amazon River habitat and an enclosure for its pandas, which were the first to give birth in captivity through natural fertilization. The zoo is open year-round and offers free admission to children under 7.

About the Author

Since 2006 Jim Orrill has produced reviews and essays on popular culture for publications including Lemurvision and "Sexis." Based in Western North Carolina, Orrill graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor's degree in office systems.

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